Expert claims Elon Musk brings his children to work as a strategic move to ‘divert attention’

Elon Musk likely brings his children to work to appear 'more personable' as well as to divert attention when needed
PUBLISHED FEB 16, 2025
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk with his son X during an executive order signing in the Oval Office at the White House on February 11, 2025, in Washington, DC (Getty Images)
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk with his son X during an executive order signing in the Oval Office at the White House on February 11, 2025, in Washington, DC (Getty Images)

WASHINGTON, DC: Tech billionaire Elon Musk brings his children to the workplace to appear more approachable and divert attention from certain issues, the BBC reported on Friday, February 14.

Musk brought his four-year-old son X Æ A-Xii to the Oval Office on Wednesday at a press meet with Donald Trump about the functioning of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).



 

The following day, 'Lil X' was joined by two more of his siblings in accompanying Musk as he met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss technology innovation.

Likely reason why Elon Musk makes his children tag along

Kurt Braddock, an American University professor of public communication, insisted that Elon Musk bringing his children to work was a well-thought-out move on the part of the Tesla CEO.

Elon Musk and his son X appear on stage at President-Elect Donald Trump's victory rally at the Capital One Arena on January 19, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump will be sworn in as the 47th U.S. president on January 20. (Photo by Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)
Elon Musk and his son X appear on stage at President Donald Trump's victory rally at the Capital One Arena on January 19, 2025, in Washington, DC (Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

"The inclusion of the kids in many public appearances is very much a politician move or a political move to make him seem a bit more personable (and) take a human approach to how the public views him," he stated.

During Wednesday's press briefing, Musk reportedly fielded the majority of the questions, while X did his best to distract him by pulling faces, clinging onto his father’s shoulders, and straight up interrupting him. At one point, the child was even seen picking his nose and wiping it on the presidential desk.

"I do think that there is a bit of a strategy here trying to draw attention to some things while diverting attention to other things," Braddock commented on the incident.

Strategic communication consultant Jon Haber insisted that Musk's children help President Donald Trump as well when they make their appearances.

Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, joined by his son X, delivers remarks alongside U.S. President Donald Trump during an executive order signing in the Oval Office at the White House on February 11, 2025 in Washington, DC. Trump is to sign an executive order implementing the Department of Government Efficiency’s (DOGE)
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, joined by his son X, delivers remarks alongside President Donald Trump during an executive order signing in the Oval Office at the White House on February 11, 2025, in Washington, DC (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

"For Trump, the more chaos, the more he floods the zone, the less anybody can really focus on. Chaos works for him," he noted.

X's mother not happy with his Oval Office appearance

Grimes, the Canadian singer who is Elon Musk's ex-girlfriend and shares son X with him, was reportedly not happy with X staying in the Oval Office during an official press conference.

NEW YORK, NY - MAY 07:  Elon Musk and Grimes attend the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imag
Elon Musk and Grimes attend the Heavenly Bodies: Fashion & The Catholic Imagination Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art on May 7, 2018, in New York City (Theo Wargo/Getty Images for Huffington Post)

Taking to the social media platform X, she replied to a person commenting on the child's behavior in the Oval Office writing, "He should not be in public like this. I did not see this, thank u for alerting me. But I'm glad he was polite. Sigh."



 

Back in 2022, Grimes had revealed she was not a fan of having her son in the spotlight, saying, "Whatever is going on with family stuff, I just feel like kids need to stay out of it, and X is just out there. I mean, I think E is really seeing him as a protege and bringing him to everything and stuff.… X is out there. His situation is like that. But, yeah, I don't know."

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